Discovering the Thrills of Sacramento and an Introduction to Lake Tahoe

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Napa Valley-Sacramento, California

Discovering the Thrills of Sacramento and an Introduction to Lake Tahoe

Today was another beautiful day—like all the others we’ve had on this trip. We left our Best Western Plus Hotel and motored northeast to begin our stay at the lovely Lake Tahoe about which we had heard so much but never been. But first we had to stop en route at the capital of California, Sacramento. En route, as we exited through Napa Valley, we passed by mile after mile of laden vineyards, ripe for the picking. Then, we left this idyllic part of the state behind and entered Silicon Valley where the high-tech nature of the state became evident. Clearly, it is from the revenue generated by this region that California prospers. I have a classmate from school who lives close by in Milpitas and as we passed by the exit signs on the highway for her town, I gave her a call to say hello. But that was all that we could manage as our schedule was tight.

Exploring California’s Capital, Sacramento:

We were all excited to be in Sacramento as it is the capital of California and, other than Chriselle, who had been there on work, the three of us had never even passed through the city. As it turned out, Chriselle had a good idea of where to take us and so we headed straight towards the waterfront. When we arrived there, we discovered that everything was still closed as it was about 9.30 am. Instead, we decided to drive towards the Capitol building. Its Dome was evident from a long distance because these structures are so distinctive—so it was easy to go over a bright yellow bridge towards the Dome.

As it turned out, there was an employment fair going on in the open patio area in front of the Capitol and we were among the earliest visitors. As a result, we ended up picking up a bunch of freebies in the form of lip chap stick, note pads, stress balls, ball point pens and pencils, magnifying glass and ruler combos, key rings and even a T-shirt for Llew. This was super fun for us although Chriselle and AJ chose to remain in the car.

The Capitol is an impressive building, of course, gleaming white in the early morning sun. It is surrounded by the skyscrapers of downtown Sacramento where the corporate offices of so many companies are based. The sun was bouncing off them as we drove around and received a sense of the most spiffy part of town.

But then, we were hungry as we hadn’t eaten breakfast and decided to find a place where we could buy brunch, As we had been talking about Carl Jr. for a few days (the fast food chain that seems to be very popular in California), we thought we would check it out. We ended up eating burgers there (I got a Chicken Southwestern Style grilled burger which actually turned out quite nice). With our bellies satisfied, we could turn out thoughts towards more sightseeing and this time we headed back to the Waterfront.

Exploring ‘Old Sac’, i.e. Vintage Sacramento:

It was while exploring vintage Sacramento that I picked up on a lot of historic aspects of this capital City. Sacramento was probably one of the terminating points of the long pioneering journey of those Californian predecessors who were part of the Gold Rush. It was they who set up the earliest settlement that developed into the great city it is today. To replicate the sense and ambience of this era, Old Town (or Old Sac) Sacramento has been created. It is a series of simply three or four streets that were constructed around the railroad station. The station itself can boast old steam trains that still run and give visitors rides for a fee while recreating the era of prospectors who tried their luck because they had nothing to lose. We did not take the train ride but we did hear the train enter the platform with its old-world whistles that proclaimed its presence.

Walking through the streets of the town gave us the opportunity to buy our magnet as well as gifts for a few people in Bombay who have been helping us keep an eye on our loved ones while we are on holiday as the shops had some interesting merchandize. There were wonderfully old-fashioned shops selling old-fashioned candy, ice-cream, T-shirts, souvenirs, distinctive clothing, footwear and the like. It really was a fun place to explore. We ended up buying some salt water taffy as well as ice-cream and getting a sense of the area and its offerings and after a very leisurely time spent in this quite fascinating space, we returned to our car.

Longish Drive to Lake Tahoe and Exploring Truckee:

All that was left then was for us to make the mileage that would take us further north to Lake Tahoe. It was not that long a drive before we started to enter Alpine Country. Indeed, the roads leading up to Lake Tahoe offer as much stirring visual interest as the Lake area itself. The tall coniferous forests mingled with the famous Sequoia (or California Redwoods) are plentiful in this area as are eucalyptus trees. We could actually smell the fragrance of these glorious pine-family trees as we inched closer.

Eventually, we arrived at a town called Truckee where we decided to take a break in order to explore it on foot. We parked out car and decided to explore the shops. Of course, we did see magnets, post cards and the usual souvenirs that one finds at every tour stop but we also saw a train station (for people can reach this spot by train) as well as eateries and ice-cream parlors. Yes, it was nice to get out and stretch our legs and, at the same time, to take in the mountain ambience of this place. I soon realized that, like Jackson, Wyoming, and many of the towns in the Montana region, the interior décor and design of the homes in this area are influenced by the Lake and the beautiful mountains that surround it. And so, it was fun it to take in the artistic motifs that bring class to this area.

Finding our Air B ad B At Kings Beach:

Leaving Truckee behind us, we continued along our route and found ourselves being treated to our first glimpses of the Lake—a lake that is so vast that it seemed like a sea ahead of us. The ring road that circles the periphery of the lake is visually interesting as it is punctuated by thick green, coniferous vegetation and a series of structures that form homes and, only occasionally, tiny, one-horse towns. Eventually, after receiving our first views of what the next couple of days would be like, we found our way to our Air B and B on Anderson Street in the town of Kings Beach in the north of Lake Tahoe where we would stay for the next three nights.

But, having found the place, we decided to stop at the Safeway supermarket which was fairly close to us to pick up some provisions for the next three days as we had been eating fast food and fancy meals in restaurants for so long that we had reached a point when we wanted something simpler.

And so, at the local Safeway, close at hand, just about five minutes’ drive away, we picked up staples such as bagels, cream cheese, bread, cheese, cold cuts and packaged salads—with these items, we’d have meals for the next few days.

Before we ended our day, as there was still somewhat pretty light emanating off the lake, Llew and I decided to go out for a walk down to the waterfront to enjoy the sound of lake waters lapping the shore. And so, off we went, into a really lovely twilight to take in our first real sights of the lake. It was quite lovely and we enjoyed sitting there amid the quiet serenity, as night fell quietly about us.

When we did return to our lovely cabin (which, by the way, was most charmingly furnished and decorated, we put together a dinner of our store-bought food and then made our way to bed.

It has been another lovely day—punctuated by a visit to a huge city (a capital, in fact) and ending with entry into the most bucolic area which promised us mountains, forest and lakes.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

More Napa Valley Treats: Visiting the Petrified Forest in Calistoga, Sauntering through St. Helena, Wine-Tasting at BV (Beaulieu Vineyards), Late Lunch at Burgers and Half Bottles in Yountville, Napa Riverfront Walk, Dinner at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Coppia.

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

More Napa Valley Treats: Visiting the Petrified Forest in Calistoga, Sauntering through St. Helena, Wine-Tasting at BV (Beaulieu Vineyards), Late Lunch at Burgers and Half Bottles in Yountville, Napa Riverfront Walk, Dinner at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Coppia.

Today, we had a full, exciting and extremely varied day. Our day began when we woke up in our Best Western Plus Hotel, got ourselves coffee, picked up Everything Bagels with cream cheese from Einstein Bagels next door and then set out for the first item on a very long day’s agenda—a drive up north to Calistoga.

Exploring the Petrified Forest in Calistoga:

The thing about touring on your own (without the assistance of a tour operator or a travel agent) is that you do your research online and my source is always Lonely Planet. It was this website that extolled the virtues of the Petrified Forest in Calistoga as one of the not-to-miss sites in the area. And so, it was at the top of our agenda as Calistoga is also in the extreme north of the wine-growing region of Napa and it takes about 45 minutes to drive there at a leisurely place (from our hotel).

Along the route, you will pass mile after mile of vineyards, all proclaiming ownership by various well-known wine-label manufacturers. They were fully laden with fruit, as we were there just in the harvest season: vines were drooping with purple grapes in such abundant, luscious bunches as to make us stop to actually pluck then for our eating pleasure (but, of course, we did nothing of the sort). We did stop, a little later in the day, to frolic in the vineyards and take some pictures surrounded by the fruitful vines.

In a short while, we were at the entrance to the Petrified Forest. We parked out car, watched a couple of deer saunter around and then made our way to the ticket counter to buy our tickets ($14 per head which included a guided walk with a naturalist). We browsed around the shop which was actually filled with really lovely merchandise, all based on the earth’s natural materials, and then our guide Nancy, was ready to begin our walk.

The walk turned out to be highly enlightening. We were joined by about three other couples and together we made a small but merry group as we followed her to the various nooks and crannies of a vastly sprawling property. From what I gathered, this area has seen a great deal of geological activity of various kinds through the millennia and these have created the natural conditions that turn trees into stone—this is what is meant by their becoming petrified. Fire, volcanic activity, flood, etc. contribute to this phenomenon and, eventually, fallen trees, which remain untouched for generations end up looking like wood. From some of them semi-precious stones, as we recognize or understand them, can be extracted. Overall, it was a really fascinating experience and we ended up learning a whole lot, looking at a lot of specimen trees that have been left in situ to demonstrate their evolution to visitors, etc. I have not seen anything quite like this before (none of us had)—so it was really an educational experience. It lasted over an hour, by which time we were ready to use the facilities and move on. It was very misty and a tad chilly, but luckily we were all clothed warmly and did not mind the lack of sun on that nippy morning.

Strolling Through the Town of St. Helena:

Since we had some time to spare before our next appointment—a wine-tasting reservation at a nearby vineyard—we parked our car in the cute town of St. Helena and decided to stroll through it. All the Napa towns (Calistoga, Napa, St. Helena, Rutherford, Yountville) in this area are super snazzy and upscale. They attract a certain type of clientele—the deep-pocketed type. As a result, the shops and merchandise offered in this area are ultra sophisticated. There are one-of-a-kind boutiques, designer jewelry stores, fancy housewares offered in kitchen shops, and antiques shops galore. I left the others for about ten minutes to browse through an absolutely divine antiques store that was not only filled with the most desirable treasures but was so beautifully laid out, the contents so classily grouped or set up together, that I was totally enchanted. We strolled at leisure through these lovely streets with their pretty shop-windows and enticing displays until we actually came upon a consignment store! And then after just a little while’s browsing, Chriselle found a beautiful pair of sunglasses and a really lovely shawl and I found a stunning necklace in two toned gold and silver which I absolutely loved. This became our souvenirs of the region although we did buy our magnet of St. Helena, as usual. Then, we got back into our car and made our way to the Beaulieu Vinery.

Wine-Tasting at Beaulieu Vineyards (BV):

The Beaulieu Vineyard (commonly known as BV) is one of the oldest vineyards and vineries in the Napa region. It is particularly known for the wines it makes out of the Cabernet grape and it was in this context that Chriselle chose this place for a wine-tasting as Llew is a great fan of these particular reds. Like all these properties, this one too was charming. We were seated on a shaded patio where a table was laid out for us. We had a small plate of complimentary charcuterie put out for our nibbling pleasure and indeed we were glad to see it. Then, we were placed in the hands of a wonderful sommelier named Jeff who was affable, knowledgeable, amusing and patient. He introduced us to each of the six wines that made up our flight and told us what made them unique. We thoroughly enjoyed our education in his hands and also enjoyed the taste of the wines. Cabernets are full-bodied, very rich wines that go well with red meats and cold weather. Llew certainly enjoyed the experience while the rest of us nibbled on dried apricots, bread sticks and delicious wine-soaked cheese. At the end of the session, we used the facilities again, then posed by the entrance and moved on. Yes, we were enjoying the full Napa experience and were savoring every stage of it.

Nibbles and Tasters at V. Sattui:

Talking of savoring, I had remembered that, on a previous trip to Napa, several years ago, I had come in a tour bus from San Francisco that had stopped at V. Sattui, a very charming place that combined a vineyard with a winery, a grocery store, a restaurant, etc. I was keen that the group should experience this place and when we passed by it, I suggested that we stop there, As it turned out, the company has very recently renovated their grocery store which is now called Mercato and which is huge. We parked our car and walked through the property which was still as charming as I remembered it to be with a wishing well, a building with a Tuscan stone façade and turreted red tile roof, blooming gardens filled with flowers, bees and butterflies, a cool avenue or alle under which one could walk until we reached the big barn doors of the Mercato.

And, inside, a real treat awaited us. Yes, it is a sprawling space selling wine and everything wine-related from implements to bottle openers, from cheese boards to table linen, even candles. There was a whole sampling section and there we stopped to taste olive oils and vinegars, crackers with a variety of creamy dips, both savory and sweet, cheese samples and olives. Indeed, there was enough to make us feel slightly full. It was all very delicious and a perfect opening to what would be a really wonderful meal that would follow. So, I was glad we did make the stop and that each one of us found something we enjoyed tasting. It was what the French call ‘degustation’ and I enjoyed it fully.

Late Lunch of Thomas Keller’s Burgers:

every foodie or gastronomist knows that the most famous restaurant in America is in Napa Valey—it is called The French Laundry and is founded and run by a chef called Thomas Keller in a town called Yountville. However, it is next to impossible to get reservations at The French Laundry and so we had to ensure that we partook of this chef’s genius through one of his more modest eateries. Jessie, at Nicholson Ranch, had told us yesterday that Keller has a number of other smaller, less fancy and far more modestly priced restaurant such as Buchon in the area and a really sweet burger place called Burgers and Half Bottles. And so, I thought that we could stop at it and partake of one of his burgers. And so, this was our next stop.

Having stuffed our faces with the nibbles at V.Sattui, we were not really very hungry when we arrived at Yountville to find Burger and Half Bottles. But, of course, we had to buy something—so Chriselle and AJ decided to share a Lobster Roll and Llew and I decided to share one of the burgers. And, I have to say, that it was a burger to remember. My favorite burgers, so far, have been the Shack Stack at Shake Shack, but these were a notch above those to be sure. Not only was the patty perfectly charred with the caramelized onion adding a whole new layer of flavor but there were also sour cucumber pickles that added crispness, texture and taste and made the burger memorable. I was so glad we had a chance to experience Keller’s genius.

A Walk Along the Napa River Promenade:

And with that stop made and that desire satisfied, we were able to drive further south towards the town of Napa. We were keen to take another one of the highlights that Lonely Planet had extolled—the Napa River Promenade Walk. But before we arrived there, we stopped at the Public Market which was also pointed out as a pleasant place to explore. We found it to be like a Victorian covered market or like the Milwaukee Public Market that I had just seen in Wisconsin with Marielou or like the famous Covered Market in Oxford (only much smaller). We walked through the various sections to take in the wares on display and for sale: cold cuts, deli items, cheese, fresh produce, enticing fruit and veg, a milk bar, an ice-cream parlor, a place selling kitchenware including beautiful candles, etc. Having taken all this in, we moved on.

AJ and Chriselle decided to sit out the pleasure of joining us on the walk as Chriselle’s feet are still prone to fatigue following plantar fascittis. But Llew and I could not wait to explore the riverfront which lay just a little ahead of us. We crossed the railway tracks and, in the process, saw an old-fashioned, steam train, and then made our way towards the pretty buildings in pastel colors which housed some unique shops and boutiques. This, and a number of water-front eateries and restaurants made up the sum total of this pretty walking route. As the season is past, there were just a few straggling visitors everywhere we went and we enjoyed the quietness and the emptiness of the space. We walked all the way to the water’s edge which allowed us to see the river meandering away into the distance, its banks lined on both sides by autumnal-hued trees that are gradually putting on their Fall splendour. Of course, it was a beautiful walk and we were very glad we took it.

Dinner at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Coppia:

And finally, after we strolled back to the Public Market where Chriselle and AJ were waiting for us, we had reached the final item on our agenda for today—dinner at the CIA at Coppia. Yes, Chriselle had made reservations for us and we were all set to enjoy a meal at the restaurant called The Grove. This is in a vast property that comprises fountains, sculpture, kitchen gardens or potagers filled with herbs and vegetable that are used in their creations, etc. As we were a tad early, we enjoyed lingering in these spaces until, eventually, we arrived at the restaurant, met the maître d’ and were seated. Yes, we had arrived early and were the first patrons of the evening, but as the day parched on, we were joined by other diners at adjoining tables.

And what of the food? Well, like all CIA restaurants, it is prepared by chefs-in-the-making under the supervision of masterchefs as part of their practical tutorials. In keeping with that concept, there was a glass partition behind which the crew worked and we could see the novices (dressed in black) and the instructors (dressed in white) as they worked their magic. The menus are always on par with those you’d find at any fine restaurant with produce usually picked freshly from their adjoining gardens.

And so, from their menu (which, I believe, changes almost daily), we picked the Roasted Bone Marrow with Braised Oxtail and Shitake Marmalade, Bagna Couda and Foccaccia Toast. Llew and I decided to share this masterpiece which was first inspired by the creation of chef Fergus Henderson of London’s St. John’s Bar and Restaurant at Farringdon (where I had first tasted, it several years ago). Needless to say, it was very good indeed. Chriselle and AJ chose the Belfiore Burrata which came with heirloom tomatoes, lemon cucumber and focaccia panzanella, Jimmy Nardella puree (we had seen and eaten these red peppers at Chez Panisse a couple of nights ago) and Salsa Verde. We also ordered a Salad for the Table and we received an absolutely humongous one filled with nixed greens and grated parmesan cheese. When it came time to pick our mains, Llew and I shared the Porcini Rigatoni Carbonara with egg yolk, guanaciale (pork cheek), Spring Peas, Pecorino Romano and Sarawak Black Pepper while Chriselle and AJ chose the Oven-Roasted California Monkfish with Penn Cove Mussels, Grilled Fennel, Vermouth-Saffron Brodo and Crème Fraiche. Our desserts were Mascapone Cheesecake with Balsamic Cherry Sauce, Amarena Cherries and Crème Fraiche with Whipped Cream and the Strawberry White Chocolate Mousse with Shortbread Cookie Crumble, Fresh Strawberries, Mascapone Whipped Cream and Chocolate Shavings. Well…it was a meal fit for a king, I’m sure you’d agree and we took our time savoring each morsel and enjoying the talents of the chefs-to-be among whom, no doubt, one day, could well be our next Thomas Keller or Alice Waters.

A Visit to the Museum of Culinary Arts:

It was while we were clearing up our bill that the waitress decided to let us into a little secret. She told us to take the elevator one floor upstairs to a most unusual (almost secret) museum. We followed her lead and ended up in an Alladin’s Cave of such amazement as to leave us slack-jawed. We were in a Museum of Culinary Arts that contained the entire lifetime’s collection of cookery implements of the famous Chuck Williams, of the famous Williams-Sonoma chain of houseware stores. Honestly, I cannot even begin to describe the variety and extent of this collection that occupies one large gallery and then spills over into the corridors in innumerable vitrines, all of which contain items he sources from various parts of Europe. Suffice it to say that there is every possible kind of pot and pan and dish not to mention instruments such as peelers and graters, food mills and presses, weights and measures—I think you get the idea. It was simply too much for the foodie in me to take in and, believe me, the evening could not possibly have ended on a more gratifying note for me…great food and a museum to boot! Wow! For me, this was a marriage made in heaven.

All that was left was for us to pile back into our car and drive to the Best Western Plus where we hunkered down for the night after another incredible day in Napa.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Discovering the Food and Wine Delights of Napa and Beyond—Wine-Tasting and Dinner at Chez Panisse in Sausalito

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Morro Bay-Napa Valley, California

Discovering the Food and Wine Delights of Napa and Beyond—Wine-Tasting and Dinner at Chez Panisse in Sausalito

We arrived at the most glamorous day of our travels as we settled down into the gastronomic treats of the famous Napa Valley. Indeed it was a red letter day for it ticked off one more item from a long-standing Bucket List.

Checking Out of The Landing at Morro Bay and Journey Northwards:

It was still dark when we set out of our rooms at The Landing at Morro Bay, checked out and set off in our car for our long (four hour) drive northwards to Napa Valley. The town of Morro Bay was empty (it was about 6.00 am) as we negotiated the streets that got us out of the grid and on to the highway. We resolved to look for breakfast (or at least coffee) along the route. I had a large box of untouched pancakes from my breakfast of yesterday and I shared them with Llew as we drove off. Slowly but surely, we inched along towards our destination, En route, we passed through Silicon Valley and began to see the tech companies along the highway that proclaimed the industry and expertise of the area.

Arrival at Napa Valley and Check-Into the Best Western Plus:

About an hour into our journey (around 9.00 am), I made a call to Deepak Gulrajani, a wine enthusiast and entrepreneur to whom I had been introduced in Bombay, about a year ago. Deepak owns both a vineyard (Nicholson Ranch) and a winery (Gulrajani Estate), the first in Sonoma, the latter in Napa, and he had invited me to visit them, if ever I was in the area. Since we did have reservations at another winery, I was reluctant to call him (time would not permit us to visit both), plus he did not grow Cabernet grapes and, therefore, did not (as far as I knew) produce Cabernet Sauvignon wines (which are Llew’s favorites). However, I decided to make him a courtesy call en route and was delighted when he reiterated his invitation and insisted that we come to see him because yes, indeed, he was able to serve us Cabernets as well. So, we did make a last-minute change, cancelled the original wine-tasting reservation we had, and decided to make our way to Sonoma County instead to meet Deepak. But first, we would find and check into our accommodation for the next two nights—the Best Western Plus Hotel.

The hotel was very centrally located and turned out to be rather more charming than we had imagined considering that it was a chain and very reasonably priced (for a neighborhood that is definitely upper crust). In fact, the cost of living in this neck of the California woods is high and it is rather challenging to have a reasonably-priced holiday in this area. We loved the fact that it had a secluded look to it, was a sprawling property with an outdoor pool, a hot tub and a gym, free beverages in the lobby, coffee makers in the room and a general sense of generosity in the air. We had rooms side by side and obtaining the keys, we checked into them and stashed away our baggage. Then, we re-entered the car to begin our drive to the wine estate.

Our First Wine-Tasting in Napa—at Nicholson Ranch:

And so it was that we arrived at Nicholson Ranch, a vast property with a winding road that led up to the main Tuscan-styled structure—the Reception area and wine cave. There, Deepak was waiting for us and he greeted and welcomed us warmly. It was a fairly warm day…so we were happy to be seated outside on the patio overlooking the acreage of land that included cattle who, periodically, made their way across the fields to the stream on the opposite side. Deepak put us into the hands of his assistant, Jessie, a lovely young lady from New Jersey, who, in turn, put us through the paces and was our hostess for the morning. Deepak did not leave our sides as he launched on his commentary and told us all about his entry into the field of wine-making after a long and very successful career in IIT India, followed by an MBA from the Stern School of Business at NYU (which made him a kindred spirit), then a stint as a hedge fund manager. This background prepared him well for taking the entrepreneurial plunge into the world of the vintner when he bought a working vineyard and a wine-production unit. His establishment is artisanal, which means it is kept deliberately small and does not compete with the likes of manufacturers such as Robert Mondavi who manufacture en masse for the mid-priced table. Deepak’s wines are priced at upwards of Rs. 150 a bottle, they are top of the line products and, therefore, exclusive.

Llew and Chrsielle indulged in the wine-tasting as my sulphur allergy kept me away from them and AJ is a teetotaller. However, we did sit around, enjoying the serenity of the atmosphere, viewing the sauntering line of cows in the distance, taking in the unusual contemporary sculpture on the estate and shooting the breeze with Deepak. We were with him for more than an hour, during which we were introduced to a range of at least six wines including Cabernets. Deepak never left us alone and played the role of the perfect host. He told us that, time permitting, he would be happy to introduce us to his production unit where we could see the apparatus involved in the making of superior wines. At the end of the session, both Llew and Chriselle liked the wines they sampled and felt pleased that we had made the detour to Nicholson Winery. We were delighted to find that Deepak did not charge us for the wines plus offered them to us on the house although we were more than ready to pay for them. Thanking him profusely, we made our way out of the estate but not before pausing at the gate to take group pictures with his property in the background. It had been an admirable morning indeed.

Lunch at Taco Bell En Route to Sausalito and the San Francisco Bay Area:

With one wine-tasting behind us, we drove deeper and deeper into Napa Valley as we headed for our next site of discovery—the San Francisco Bay Area. Although all of us had been to this part of California before, we had been there separately and at various times over the years—never together. This trip would give us an opportunity to see the city from a long distance away and to explore the Bay Area; and I have to say that I quite fell in love with it. Our destination was the snazzy town of Sausalito that many people had told me was the prettiest in the Bay.

But first we needed to find lunch as we’d not really eaten breakfast anywhere. Since we had talked about eating the Mexican fast food called chalupas, we decided to go to Taco Bell, a chain that offers plentiful outlets in the region. Yes, we did end up ordering burritos, tacos and chalupas from this place—all of which were really very good indeed because we were indulging in them after many years. With that meal behind us, we proceeded towards Sausalito.

Exploring Snazzy Sausalito:

Sausalito is one of those beautiful gems in the San Francisco Bay Area that is highly exclusive and very expensive. On driving into the city itself, we got the impression that we were in a very affluent neighborhood. Finding parking in the vast public car parks close to the water, we began our exploration on foot of the town. We passed by a pretty, old-world looking public garden to arrive at the waterfront which area is completely lined by exclusive boutiques and one-of-a-kind shops that we enjoyed browsing in, buying our magnet and indulging in a bit of window-shopping. Spiffy cars wound in and out of this area and added to the posh ambience of the place. Gradually, we made our way to the wide promenade overlooking the Bay. The water was clear and blue to match the skies above. It was truly idyllic, the weather just perfect. In the distance, we could easily spy the misty skyscrapers of the city of Sam Francisco and the hazy outlines of the famous Golden Gate Bridge. We posed for pictures on the waterfront, then began the walk back to the car park. We had about an hour’s drive ahead of us to Berkeley where we would be stopping for dinner at Chez Panisse, perhaps the most famous restaurant in the area, where we had made reservations. As we made our way there, we had the chance to skirt around the Bay and take in the beautiful, water-front manors and condos that offer some of the world’s most stirring views to the lucky inhabitants of this area.

Arriving in Berkeley and Dinner at Chez Panisse:

Finally, after an hour or so and at a very comfortable pace, we reached Berkeley, the famous university town of Northern California, which I would very much have liked to explore too (as we were only a stone’s throw from it and we were well in time for our dinner appointment). However, there was not much enthusiasm from other members of our party who were concerned about finding parking in the area. In the end, we did find parking very easily and used the extra time to explore the area along Sattuck Avenue on foot (after we passed by and identified the restaurant in which we would be eating). Llew and I enjoyed taking in the relaxed, scholarly ambience of this academic town that made history in the 1960s for being the venue at which student protests against the Vietnam War ultimately led to the its end.

At 7.00 pm, we were at the entrance to the restaurant. We were led upstairs to the more casual eatery—the one below being restricted to fine dining. After being seated at the table and placed in the hands of a wonderful waiter called Cameron, we perused the menu for drinks. I chose to have a cocktail (it has become customary for me to choose an exotic drink in special places) while Llew had red wine. As for our food, we chose two starters to share: the shaved zucchini salad with lemon, mint, pecorino and toasted almonds—it was a delightful fresh salad with a zing—and the Jimmy Nardella roasted red peppers with fig vinaigrette, escarole, prosciutto and sage. They were wonderful palates teasers that left us aching for more. As for our mains, I chose the Duck Leg confit with shell bean gratin, toasted breadcrumbs, fenel salad and sauce verde (I eat duck so rarely that I always choose it when on a menu) and Llew chose the Autumn squash ravioli with chanterelle mushrooms and gremolata. We shared them so that we both had two things to taste. Chriselle and AJ had the Grilled grass-fed New York roast beef with fried sweet peppers, garlicky greens and black olive butter as well as the Halibut baked in a fig leaf with romano beans, new potatoes, fennel salad and sauce verde.Our mains were followed by dessert, of course, but we simply decided to share two of them: the sticky gingerbread cake with crème fraiche ice-cream and fresh fruit and raspberry and crème fraiche sorbet with gratineed figs, raspberries and an almond biscotti. Then, we gave ourselves up completely to the pleasure of healthy eating, keeping in mind the revolutionary concept of farm to table eating that was initiated by chef Alice Waters who founded and ran Chez Panisse and, in the process, revolutionized American gastronomy.

Chez Panisse, incidentally, gets its name from the characters in one of the French writer Marcel Pagnol’s novels. It happens that Waters knew Pagnol personally through her husband who was good friends with the celebrated writer. Posters advertising films adapted from Pagnol’s novels decorate the walls of the restaurant which is very casual. I saw little children seated at the table with grown-ups, the elderly sipping their apertifs in fastidious fashion and teenagers too enjoying the thrills of a sophisticated table. Yes, for me, dining at Chez Panisse was a long-held dream (I once owned all of Wasters’ cook books), but because Berkeley is so far away from where I was based in the US, the chances of me actually eating in this place were remote—which is why I was so thrilled to finally make a dream come true.

And on that triumphant note, we left the restaurant and made our way towards the car park where we entered, fully satiated, and then sank down quietly to enjoy the drive back to Napa Valley and our Best Western Hotel where we hunkered down for the night.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…